There stand the two men. One is tall and broad, the other smaller but solid-looking. Both are dressed in elaborate, layered clothing with colourful embroidered belts and cuffs. I’ve seen this traditional type of clothing in the Lapland holiday brochure. The taller man is wearing an incongruously modern snow jacket over his costume and has loops of thin rope slung across his body. The smaller guy looks resplendent in a long, thick reindeer hide coat and grey fur boots which curve into points above the toes.
Nari breaks the silence, and uses her fiercest voice, though I suspect she’s enjoying this now. ‘What do you think you’re doing, scaring the life out of two defenceless women?’
Neither of the men reply. Instead of barging into the cabin and garrotting us with our own bootlaces, they take a step back further into the darkness. They’re right to be afraid of Nari. Very wise.
At last I hear a voice, slow and deep, coming to me through the thick wool of the taller man’s scarf. ‘Itisyou.’
It takes a moment or two to register. Then I hear him say my name and even though it’s muffled by the layers over his face, I know that voice, as smooth and tempting as spiced hot chocolate. Its owner reaches thick mittens to his face and tugs the scarf away and I recognise those full lips and that jawline, broader now and more bristled than when I last saw them.
‘Stellan?’
I’m aware of Nari’s wide eyes burning into the side of my face and I just know she’s smirking. I step forward, trying to get a better look at the man I haven’t seen since I was a teenager, not easy in the polar darkness and with snowflakes flurrying between us.
‘What are you doing here?’ he asks, in a not entirely friendly voice.
‘I’m on holiday with my friend, Nari.’
Nari offers Stellan her widest grin. She’s put a steadying hand on the small of my back.
‘I was on a reindeer trail with some tourists. I just got back and found your message on Facebook,’ he says.
I’m nodding and trying to gauge the look on his face, something between caution and annoyance. It suddenly strikes me that I shouldn’t have come here. There’s a reason we haven’t spoken for years. What was it again? Oh yeah, he ran off and abandoned me. Story of my life. I look down at my feet, embarrassed, and also a tiny bit pissed-off that he’s being so hostile.
Nari’s the only one smiling and she’s looking back and forth between me and Stellan like this is a highly entertaining Grand Slam match point. She’s nudging me and I realise it’s my turn to say something. Stellan stares at me, his eyes screwed up against the snow.
‘Do you want to come in for a coffee?’ I say.
‘No,’ he replies, and it’s so abrupt I stiffen my neck in shocked response. I remember him being a cool customer but was he always rude like this?
The second man hurriedly steps forward at this point, pulling his own scarf down, revealing an apologetic smile. ‘Welcome to Lapland. I am Niilo Oskal. I work with Stellan on the wilderness trails. I am at your service.’ He makes a charming bow and I just know Nari’s as struck by his beautiful features and soft, kind voice as I am. She reaches for his hand and pumps it enthusiastically, introducing us both with a broad smile.
Niilo nods shyly, not quite making eye contact with her and occasionally directing his smiling dark eyes somewhere down towards her feet.
‘How long are you staying?’ Stellan asks, his voice softer now, cowed by the polite example set by his friend’s warm welcome.
‘Until Boxing Day.’
He receives the information without a sound, so I add, ‘That’s the twenty-sixth.’ He still doesn’t speak, though his eyes are set disconcertingly on mine. His golden-brown irises are still the lightest I’ve ever seen and they’re framed by white, frost-covered lashes.
‘OK,’ he nods sharply, and then turns to leave. ‘Enjoy your vacation.’
Niilo shoots another sorry smile towards us as he makes after Stellan, before turning back suddenly and speaking directly to Nari, who’s still grinning in amazed disbelief.
‘Hyvää joulua,’ he says.
And with that Niilo follows after Stellan, who has already stalked off and been swallowed up by the dark treeline. Nari and I watch the light from Niilo’s torch as it dances and jerks before finally fading out.
Closing the door with a heavy shove, Nari laughs. ‘What the hell was all that about?’
‘I have no idea,’ I reply, realising I’m still gripping the wine bottle, my would-be weapon, and feeling utterly ridiculous.
‘Rude, much?’ Nari remarks, as she reaches for her suitcase handle.
‘I’m sure he used to be nicer than that.Muchnicer. Sweet even,’ I say, wondering why I’m defending the clot.
‘His friend was nice though, wasn’t he?’ Her eyes glisten and her lips hitch up at the side a little. I’ve seen this look a lot, but she’s all smart talk, smirking, and no action when it comes to blokes these days, so I let it go.
I watch Nari struggling to drag her case over the lip of the door frame. Before she heads next door to her chalet she throws a glance towards the deep footprints in the snow made by our strange welcoming committee. ‘Get ready for dinner. Maybe they’ll be back at the resort restaurant waiting for us.’ She waggles her perfect eyebrows up and down.
